Background
Seattle’s Fair Pricing legislation, identified as Council Bill 121267, addresses algorithmic pricing on groceries. Councilmember Maritza Rivera said she supports a ban on grocery pricing that charges people more based on their personal information. Her concern is that the ordinance could reach beyond that objective and potentially limit popular grocery loyalty discounts.
Rivera said that possibility could make groceries more expensive, particularly for low-income families. The debate therefore includes two competing concerns: preventing pricing based on personal information and preserving discounts that consumers use to reduce what they pay. The available council statement characterizes the legislation as a ban on algorithmic pricing on groceries and presents the possible effect on loyalty discounts as a concern, not an established result.
The Council’s Vote
The Seattle City Council passed the amended Fair Pricing legislation by a 7-2 vote on September 22, 2026. After the vote, Rivera released a statement explaining her no vote and warning that the ordinance could backfire by making groceries more expensive. The Seattle City Council’s statement is the supplied factual source for the vote and Rivera’s position.